Advisory committee seeks input on burdensome regs

Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 9:38 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 9:38 p.m.

Starting at noon Friday, business owners who feel hamstrung by local regulations will have an outlet for their concerns: a short online survey on Henderson County's website.

The survey was the first step taken by a new regulation review advisory committee in defining what parts of the county code are hindering business and job growth in the county.

Nine of 13 committee members met in the Historic Courthouse for the first time Thursday to discuss the format for future meetings, the next of which is scheduled for April 18. Commissioners have given the ad hoc committee six months to present its findings.

Chairman Bert Lemkes said the committee should keep its focus on “any excessive or unwarranted county regulations that hinder business growth or employment growth,” but only those which the county has control over. Federal and state regulations aren't in their purview, he stressed.

The committee agreed with Lemkes' suggestion that instead of going through all 500-plus pages of county code laid out before them, they should invite short presentations from groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Agribusiness Henderson County and Partners for Economic Progress.

Lemkes proposed two 10-15 minute presentations per meeting to “get a feel for where the pain is, if there is pain. And we assume we'll run into places, I expect, where the business community will come up and say, ‘We really have a problem with this regulation.'”

Committee member Renee Kumor, a former county commissioner and planning board member, wondered whether the committee shouldn't also ask businesses what aspects of the county's economic development policies are working well.

“I don't think commissioners are looking for a pat on the back,” Lemkes said, adding the committee's purpose is not to focus on the good regulations as much as to identify the burdensome ones.

County Attorney Russ Burrell said the short online survey could be supplemented by others in the future. John Mitchell, the county's new business and community development director, pledged his planning staff's help if the committee should want it.

Besides Lemkes and Kumor, committee members who attended Thursday's meeting included: pharmacist and rental property owner Larry Baber; James Clarke of Manual Woodworkers and Weavers; contractor James Ayers of NewPointe Construction; surveyor David Hill; banker Nathan Kennedy of First Citizens; retired foreign service officer Dick Kranker; and former county planner Matt Matteson.

<p>Starting at noon Friday, business owners who feel hamstrung by local regulations will have an outlet for their concerns: a short online survey on Henderson County's website.</p><p>The survey was the first step taken by a new regulation review advisory committee in defining what parts of the county code are hindering business and job growth in the county. </p><p>Nine of 13 committee members met in the Historic Courthouse for the first time Thursday to discuss the format for future meetings, the next of which is scheduled for April 18. Commissioners have given the ad hoc committee six months to present its findings.</p><p>Chairman Bert Lemkes said the committee should keep its focus on “any excessive or unwarranted county regulations that hinder business growth or employment growth,” but only those which the county has control over. Federal and state regulations aren't in their purview, he stressed.</p><p>The committee agreed with Lemkes' suggestion that instead of going through all 500-plus pages of county code laid out before them, they should invite short presentations from groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, Agribusiness Henderson County and Partners for Economic Progress.</p><p>Lemkes proposed two 10-15 minute presentations per meeting to “get a feel for where the pain is, if there is pain. And we assume we'll run into places, I expect, where the business community will come up and say, 'We really have a problem with this regulation.'”</p><p>Committee member Renee Kumor, a former county commissioner and planning board member, wondered whether the committee shouldn't also ask businesses what aspects of the county's economic development policies are working well. </p><p>“I don't think commissioners are looking for a pat on the back,” Lemkes said, adding the committee's purpose is not to focus on the good regulations as much as to identify the burdensome ones.</p><p>County Attorney Russ Burrell said the short online survey could be supplemented by others in the future. John Mitchell, the county's new business and community development director, pledged his planning staff's help if the committee should want it.</p><p>Besides Lemkes and Kumor, committee members who attended Thursday's meeting included: pharmacist and rental property owner Larry Baber; James Clarke of Manual Woodworkers and Weavers; contractor James Ayers of NewPointe Construction; surveyor David Hill; banker Nathan Kennedy of First Citizens; retired foreign service officer Dick Kranker; and former county planner Matt Matteson.</p><p>Reach Axtell at (828) 694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com.</p>